If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Cheers Youth International 2007 in pics

Singapore Badminton has been a beneficiary of Cheers' sponsorship for a number of years now. Just look at the SBA website and you'll see Cheers name in many tournaments.

A subsidiary of NTUC FairPrice, which is owned by union members, it is heartening to see that Cheers has continued to return part of its profits to the masses and in this instance by lending its support to promote badminton at the youth level.

Those who attended the finals were each given a goodie bag plus a lucky draw with a top prize of a $50 cash voucher.

Thailand the overall winner wth 5 titles

The final results of the Cheers Youth International 2007 revealed the following:

Thailand was the overall winner with 5 titles: GDU13, GSU17, BDU17, GSU15 and GDU15. They also had 3 runner-up posititons: GSU13, GSU11, and BSU17. So Thailand was represented in 8 of the 15 finals, which was quite an achievement. It therefore appears that the youth development programme in Thailand is bearing fruit.

Indonesia came in a close second with 4 titles: GSU11, BDU13, BSU19 and BSU13. But their players achieved 7 runner-up placings, making a total of 11 finalists out of 15 events.

Malaysia and Singapore both tied for third place with 3 titles each.

Malaysia won the events for BSU17, BSU15 and BDU15 and was second in BDU13, BSU15 and BDU15.

Singapore secured the titles for GSU13, BSU11 and BDU19 and was runner-up in BSU19 and GSU17.

It is gratifying to note that badminton in Southeast Asia is still thriving although the other Asian powerhouses like China, Korea and Japan are not represented.

Boys' Doubles Under-17

Thailand's pair of Maneepong Jongjit, who was also runner-up in the BSU17, and Pollawat Boonpan was in top form and beat Indonesia's Berry Anggriawan and Seiko Wahyu Kusdiyanto 21-17, 21-15. Even the legendary double's specialist Sigit was unable to coach the young Indonesians from Djarum for a win.

Girls' Doubles Under-15 - Thailand beat Indonesia 19-21, 21-14, 27-25

The longest match of the day happened to be the most exciting! It last a good 1 hour 19 minutes with both teams fighting it out hard and giving of their best. They deserved the huge applause in the end.

Representing Thailand was Ratchanok Inthanon and Maetanee Phattanaphitoon. Ratchanok had the distinction of winning 2 titles, the GSU15 and the GDU15. She defeated Yulia Yosephine Susanto easily in the singles, 21-8, 21-10 in just 20 min.

About an hour later she and her partner Maetanee fought out a marathon against Indonesians Shella Devi Aulia and Mega Cahya Purnama before wining the decider 27-25.

There were long rallies with both teams refusing to give in. They ran and dive just to keep the rally alive. They gave their all in attack and were equally up to the task in defending. Only their excellent teamwork kept them alive. The last point was won by the Thais in the most unlikely fashion. Ratchanok, I think, rushed to return a clear to her left sideline. But she missed and fell. But fortunately for the Thais, the shuttle landed slightly out, otherwise the Indonesians would have won that point and the maximum 30 points might have been reached!

Ratchanok is a name to watch in the future for she has a never-say-die attitude and goes for every shot!

Boys' Doubles Under-19

I think many were interested to watch this match and were hoping for a thriller. But they were greatly disappointed.

The first game was so tame with the Singapore pair thrashing their opponents who were unsettled by the big smashes of Chayut. Luckily the second game became alive with some good exchanges and Arif put out a good showing but still it was not enough for the Indonesians to force a rubber. There was some humour when Marcus changed to a red T with "INDONESIA" named on it. He was asked to change back to a shirt with his own name.